> From the few times I've used MDK I've felt it was a cheap OS
You should try it again. The latest Mandrake 8.2 download edition is more polished than Red Hat and I see many people migrating their servers with this new version.
It seems you think that Mandrake is based on Red Hat. For your information, this is totally false. Mandrake has started as a RH based distro, but since 1999, Mandrake is built directly from native pieces of free-software, NOT Red Hat packages. And maybe you'd enjoy to learn that Red Hat has taken several software developed by Mandrake (rpmlint...) and many features (RPM remote update tool, RPM deps solver..., graphical installer...)
Why would Red Hat provide ReiserFS at install? They paid a guy to develop Ext3 for a while and they were certainly angry when ReiserFS was available before Ext3. So I guess Red Hat sees ReiserFS as a competitor...
you will be more pleased by using Mandrake 8.2 than any version of Red Hat. Don't forget: Red Hat is designed as a traditionnal Unix replacement, while Mandrake is designed as a Windows XP with Linux kernel (and solidity).
I'm afraid many ones should twice before considering Red Hat (which is a great distro) for their desktop environment.
Also you can now get the Mandrake 8.2 Powerpack CDs with full StarOffice 6.0 here for $65 (shipping included). StarOffice 6.0 is really *great* for import/export of MS files and font rendering. And it's a bit lighter than StarOffice 5.2.
It's absolutely not a donation system. It's a service that allows a commercial company to make business with Free Software, which makes a lot of sense. You know, I seriously doubt that StarOffice 6.0 (final) which is available for download at MandrakeClub hasn't been charged by Sun to MandrakeSoft!!
I think your question makes sense. However the Mandrake Club is about providing privileges to its users. The first "privilege" is to support Mandrake Free-Software developments, which has great consequences (the more you give the Mandrake Club, the more they can put ressources in development/QA/Free Software support such as KOffice, Linux kernel...). The second privilege is about software people use and are interested in, but which aren't available as Free-Software yet. I'm personally against proprietary software, but I've downloaded StarOffice 6.0 final from the Club, as well as Mozilla plugins packaged for Mandrake (Real player 8.0, Flash player...). In this sense, this is a privilege, because I would have passed time to find and download those pieces of software anyway. With the Club, I just downloaded them and now I'm using them. Other privileges include some interesting talks with MandrakeSoft founders and Mandrake developers. But other privileges are yet to come! The Club is very young and is growing depending on users needs/requets... It's a nice interface between us - the Mandrake users - and the Mandrake Linux project.
It's very interesting. It's on their corporate website only: --- (...) On a more global side, it seems important to note that we have been working to correct the difficult situation in which we found ourselves, following the strategic errors of the previous management team. The actions we have been carrying out have been in several areas:
1. Refocusing the company around our original business, and what we are best at. It seemed necessary that we return to our original activity at MandrakeSoft: implementing Mandrake Linux, and offering value-added products and services around this solution.
2. Lowering costs. This was necessary to bring us closer to financial stability, and took the form of removing unnessary expenses and reducing the head count. MandrakeSoft has gone from over 150 employees at the start of 2001 to less than 100 now.
3. Increasing revenue and margins. This is done by developing new sources of revenue, such as OEM sales, e-commerce, services, online subscription services such as the Club, and increasing our margin on traditional product lines.
I totally disagree with you!:-) In my IT environment I can see more and more companies using Mandrake. You know, Windows 2000 is very focused on the desktop, but companies use it as a server;-) This is the advantage of Mandrake: it's solid and reliable, which is needed for servers use, and it's very friendly as well, which is needed for a large adoption. I think you should have a look at Mandrake Business Cases to see how much Mandrake is used in the industry.
I see Mandrake/MandrakeSoft as today's real innovators in the Free Sofware world. First they totally changed the approach of Linux distributions makers by giving more importance to ease of use for instance. Secondly, they have a business approach which is *very* innovative. I can feel something about Mandrake, I don't know exactly what, which looks like the best approach around here to conciliate business and Free Software while always keeping 100% compatibility with Free Software.
The Mandrake Club is a great way to monetize a user base as large as Mandrake users. It provides many advantages such as StarOffice 6.0 (final version!) which has not even been released just because Sun seemed to believe in this club and wanted to give it a boost... The Club is also a great "tool" for users to ensure that MandrakeSoft will keep on delivering great products such as the excellent Mandrake 8.2 (which I use mostly on servers, but which is so nice as well to replease Windows on my laptop!).
Great project, great company - you've got my support guys!!:-)
Will millions computer users go to stores buying this new CD to check if it really crash their PC or Mac? This strategy could really work! Actually in my own case, I couldn't deny that perhaps tomorrow I'm going to buy the CD just to check if it can crash my Mdk8.2 box (although I really doubt about that), and why!
MandrakeSoft replied today with solid arguments (http://www.linux-mandrake.com/en/staroffice-6.0.p hp3):
"About the ZDNet controversy
A recent story at ZDNet (also picked up by Slashdot, LinuxToday, LWN and others) contained the title: "Mandrake Linux policy angers members". We'd like to briefly comment on this story.
* http://zdnet.com.com/2100-1104-866870.html * http://slashdot.org/articles/02/03/23/0454208.shtm l * http://linuxtoday.com/news_story.php3?ltsn=2002-03 -22-014-26-NW-DT-MD
From reading the headline, someone might think that MandrakeSoft has indeed angered many members of the community due to a change of company policy. Unfortunately, the author wasn't able to contact anyone at MandrakeSoft for additional information (which we would have been happy to provide), so the story is based on a few select comments from the Mandrake Forum website. http://www.mandrakeforum.com/article.php?lang=en&s id=2004
First of all, we would like to thank all of the Mandrake users and supporters who questioned the basis of the story. By reading the many comments and talkbacks at the above links, it is clear that a large part of the community is not upset. It makes all of us here at MandrakeSoft extremely proud that our efforts throughout the years of maintaining close ties to the community and our long-standing commitment to Free Software has not gone unnoticed.
Secondly, the original thread at MandrakeForum was prompted by a press release that was released prematurely which mentioned StarOffice 6.0 and the Mandrake Users Club. As soon as the comments "
No, only open-office is available in the main distro as far as I know. StarOffice is avaible for download to Mandrake Club members now (Silver members and above) (look at http://www.mandrakelinux.com/en/club/]) and will be in the packs (ProSuite, Powerpack...) in one month I guess...
"The much anticipated StarOffice 6.0 for Linux is now available for download to Mandrake Linux Club Members. We are proud to announce that Club members will be among the first Linux users to have the privilege of using the newest version of this premiere Linux Office Sui te. Since StarOffice 6.0 has a new licensing model (it is no longer free as were previous versions), MandrakeSoft is currently offering the download service to MandrakeClub "Silver" members (and above). To provide Mandrake Club members the opportunity to reach Silver status, MandrakeSoft has set up a simple upgrade procedure.
StarOffice 6.0 is comprised of five distinct components: StarOffice Writer is a professional wordprocessor; StarOffice Calc is a spreadsheet application; StarOffice Impress is a multimedia presentation tool; StarOffice Draw is a 3D graphics and special effects designer; StarOffice Adabas is a user-friendly database.
The new features include a new XML-based document format that results in dramatically reduced filesizes (compared to StarOffice 5.2), improved file filters and support for OLE objects that provides excellent compatibility with Microsoft Office documents, new font rendering, an improved user interface that makes StarOffice 6.0 more intuitive and friendly than ever, better system integration with other applications that allows, for instance, the ability to send office documents with an email client directly from StarOffice, and more!
StarOffice 6.0 is supported under the following Mandrake Linux versions (x86 only): Mandrake Linux 8.0, Mandrake Linux 8.1 and Mandrake Linux 8.2."
There should be a story on Slashdot soon since it mentions the recent controversy about the Mandrake Club Silver membership...
This reminds me when I was running Red Hat 4.2 with FVWM95!
Truly amazing product, truly amazing company...
on
Mandrake 8.2 Available
·
· Score: 5, Interesting
I tested one of the latest Mandrake Beta (currently downloading the final), and I have to admit Mandrake Linux, and in particular the 8.2 is really an amazing product. It comes with more features than I ever seen in all other Linux distros, it's now really rock solid, in 2 weeks, I only found 4 or 5 minor bugs in the beta4. It's really a great solution that can be deployed in enterprise, as well as for individual use. That's what I love in Mandrake: I run it for personal use on my laptop, and in my company on one hundred machine, and while it's the same product, the same CDs, it's not at all the same use! On my laptop I'm like a Windows user, in my company we use it like we used our SUN network before...
I have to say I'm really impressed by how MandrakeSoft, a small and rather fragile company, is keeping on going its own way. They prefer doing more efforts in building and improving a dream OS everyday, keeping the right open source software way, and they try to avoid laying offs by requesting financial contributions of its users (see the Mandrake Club announcement). I don't know what this company is going to become in the next ten years but really, Mandrake Linux and MandrakeSoft are more exciting product and company than Red Hat or SuSE!
Slashdot Mirror
I had 0 problems on 3 different machines (two x86 boxes and an iBook) with Mandrake 8.0 and Mandrake 8.2. It just works perfectly for me...
> From the few times I've used MDK I've felt it was a cheap OS
You should try it again. The latest Mandrake 8.2 download edition is more polished than Red Hat and I see many people migrating their servers with this new version.
It seems you think that Mandrake is based on Red Hat. For your information, this is totally false. Mandrake has started as a RH based distro, but since 1999, Mandrake is built directly from native pieces of free-software, NOT Red Hat packages. And maybe you'd enjoy to learn that Red Hat has taken several software developed by Mandrake (rpmlint...) and many features (RPM remote update tool, RPM deps solver..., graphical installer...)
Why would Red Hat provide ReiserFS at install? They paid a guy to develop Ext3 for a while and they were certainly angry when ReiserFS was available before Ext3. So I guess Red Hat sees ReiserFS as a competitor...
you will be more pleased by using Mandrake 8.2 than any version of Red Hat. Don't forget: Red Hat is designed as a traditionnal Unix replacement, while Mandrake is designed as a Windows XP with Linux kernel (and solidity).
I'm afraid many ones should twice before considering Red Hat (which is a great distro) for their desktop environment.
They announced it yesterday - it includes StarOffice 6.0 for ProSuite & PowerPack Editions. The announce is here.
Does SuSE 8.0 include StarOffice 6.0 as well?
Also you can now get the Mandrake 8.2 Powerpack CDs with full StarOffice 6.0 here for $65 (shipping included). StarOffice 6.0 is really *great* for import/export of MS files and font rendering. And it's a bit lighter than StarOffice 5.2.
Did you hear about Mandrake Corporate Club ? It's a bit quick to see Mandrake as a product for home users!
It's absolutely not a donation system. It's a service that allows a commercial company to make business with Free Software, which makes a lot of sense. You know, I seriously doubt that StarOffice 6.0 (final) which is available for download at MandrakeClub hasn't been charged by Sun to MandrakeSoft!!
I think your question makes sense. However the Mandrake Club is about providing privileges to its users. The first "privilege" is to support Mandrake Free-Software developments, which has great consequences (the more you give the Mandrake Club, the more they can put ressources in development/QA/Free Software support such as KOffice, Linux kernel...). The second privilege is about software people use and are interested in, but which aren't available as Free-Software yet. I'm personally against proprietary software, but I've downloaded StarOffice 6.0 final from the Club, as well as Mozilla plugins packaged for Mandrake (Real player 8.0, Flash player...). In this sense, this is a privilege, because I would have passed time to find and download those pieces of software anyway. With the Club, I just downloaded them and now I'm using them. Other privileges include some interesting talks with MandrakeSoft founders and Mandrake developers. But other privileges are yet to come! The Club is very young and is growing depending on users needs/requets... It's a nice interface between us - the Mandrake users - and the Mandrake Linux project.
Absolutely. But it's good news anyway! MandrakeSoft and SuSE have been losing money recurently for two years!
It's very interesting. It's on their corporate website only:
s letter/april2002?wslang=en
---
(...)
On a more global side, it seems important to note that we have been working to correct the difficult situation in which we found ourselves, following the strategic errors of the previous management team. The actions we have been carrying out have been in several areas:
1. Refocusing the company around our original business, and what we are best at. It seemed necessary that we return to our original activity at MandrakeSoft: implementing Mandrake Linux, and offering value-added products and services around this solution.
2. Lowering costs. This was necessary to bring us closer to financial stability, and took the form of removing unnessary expenses and reducing the head count. MandrakeSoft has gone from over 150 employees at the start of 2001 to less than 100 now.
3. Increasing revenue and margins. This is done by developing new sources of revenue, such as OEM sales, e-commerce, services, online subscription services such as the Club, and increasing our margin on traditional product lines.
January-March 2002 financial figures, which will show the results of this strategy, will be published shortly.
---
http://www.mandrakesoft.com/company/investors/new
I totally disagree with you! :-) In my IT environment I can see more and more companies using Mandrake. You know, Windows 2000 is very focused on the desktop, but companies use it as a server ;-) This is the advantage of Mandrake: it's solid and reliable, which is needed for servers use, and it's very friendly as well, which is needed for a large adoption. I think you should have a look at Mandrake Business Cases to see how much Mandrake is used in the industry.
I see Mandrake/MandrakeSoft as today's real innovators in the Free Sofware world. First they totally changed the approach of Linux distributions makers by giving more importance to ease of use for instance. Secondly, they have a business approach which is *very* innovative. I can feel something about Mandrake, I don't know exactly what, which looks like the best approach around here to conciliate business and Free Software while always keeping 100% compatibility with Free Software.
:-)
The Mandrake Club is a great way to monetize a user base as large as Mandrake users. It provides many advantages such as StarOffice 6.0 (final version!) which has not even been released just because Sun seemed to believe in this club and wanted to give it a boost... The Club is also a great "tool" for users to ensure that MandrakeSoft will keep on delivering great products such as the excellent Mandrake 8.2 (which I use mostly on servers, but which is so nice as well to replease Windows on my laptop!).
Great project, great company - you've got my support guys!!
Strangely, the Mandrake Club story, which is great, went to Slashback among other stories. Slashdot editors somtimes act strangely.
Will millions computer users go to stores buying this new CD to check if it really crash their PC or Mac? This strategy could really work! Actually in my own case, I couldn't deny that perhaps tomorrow I'm going to buy the CD just to check if it can crash my Mdk8.2 box (although I really doubt about that), and why!
"About the ZDNet controversy
A recent story at ZDNet (also picked up by Slashdot, LinuxToday, LWN and others) contained the title: "Mandrake Linux policy angers members". We'd like to briefly comment on this story.
* http://zdnet.com.com/2100-1104-866870.html
* http://slashdot.org/articles/02/03/23/0454208.sht
* http://linuxtoday.com/news_story.php3?ltsn=2002-0
From reading the headline, someone might think that MandrakeSoft has indeed angered many members of the community due to a change of company policy. Unfortunately, the author wasn't able to contact anyone at MandrakeSoft for additional information (which we would have been happy to provide), so the story is based on a few select comments from the Mandrake Forum website. http://www.mandrakeforum.com/article.php?lang=en&
First of all, we would like to thank all of the Mandrake users and supporters who questioned the basis of the story. By reading the many comments and talkbacks at the above links, it is clear that a large part of the community is not upset. It makes all of us here at MandrakeSoft extremely proud that our efforts throughout the years of maintaining close ties to the community and our long-standing commitment to Free Software has not gone unnoticed.
Secondly, the original thread at MandrakeForum was prompted by a press release that was released prematurely which mentioned StarOffice 6.0 and the Mandrake Users Club. As soon as the comments "
No, only open-office is available in the main distro as far as I know. StarOffice is avaible for download to Mandrake Club members now (Silver members and above) (look at http://www.mandrakelinux.com/en/club/]) and will be in the packs (ProSuite, Powerpack...) in one month I guess...
Just upgrade to Silver membership, it's worth $60 ;-)
"The much anticipated StarOffice 6.0 for Linux is now available for download to Mandrake Linux Club Members. We are proud to announce that Club members will be among the first Linux users to have the privilege of using the newest version of this premiere Linux Office Sui
te. Since StarOffice 6.0 has a new licensing model (it is no longer free as were previous versions), MandrakeSoft is currently offering the download service to MandrakeClub "Silver" members (and above). To provide Mandrake Club members the opportunity to reach Silver status, MandrakeSoft has set up a simple upgrade procedure.
StarOffice 6.0 is comprised of five distinct components:
StarOffice Writer is a professional wordprocessor; StarOffice Calc is a spreadsheet application; StarOffice Impress is a multimedia presentation tool; StarOffice Draw is a 3D graphics and special effects designer; StarOffice Adabas is a user-friendly database.
The new features include a new XML-based document format that results in dramatically reduced filesizes (compared to StarOffice 5.2), improved file filters and support for OLE objects that provides excellent compatibility with Microsoft Office documents, new font rendering, an improved user interface that makes StarOffice 6.0 more intuitive and friendly than ever, better system integration with other applications that allows, for instance, the ability to send office documents with an email client directly from StarOffice, and more!
StarOffice 6.0 is supported under the following Mandrake Linux versions (x86 only): Mandrake Linux 8.0, Mandrake Linux 8.1 and Mandrake Linux 8.2."
There should be a story on Slashdot soon since it mentions the recent controversy about the Mandrake Club Silver membership...
FYI, Mandrake 8.2 final is released.
This reminds me when I was running Red Hat 4.2 with FVWM95!
I have to say I'm really impressed by how MandrakeSoft, a small and rather fragile company, is keeping on going its own way. They prefer doing more efforts in building and improving a dream OS everyday, keeping the right open source software way, and they try to avoid laying offs by requesting financial contributions of its users (see the Mandrake Club announcement). I don't know what this company is going to become in the next ten years but really, Mandrake Linux and MandrakeSoft are more exciting product and company than Red Hat or SuSE!
All the features here: http://www.linux-mandrake.com/en/82.php3. Looks like a great release!
Try this distribution, try Mandrake 8.2 (even the RC release), and you'll understand that Lycoris is not a big deal. In my humble opinion of course.